NESSGA AGM 2025
Abbie Forbes and Bobby Baxter welcomed members to the 2025 Annual General Meeting at Craibstone Golf Club.
Bobby Baxter (Bobby) noted 25 apologies and introduced your Committee Members.
The Club Secretary’s Season report was given by Bobby and discussed. Of note was the fact that numbers were slightly up from last year.  Bobby also mentioned the two ladies who provided us with an exceptional welcome during our visit to Balmoral this year. Bobby also thanked all Members who generously made a donation to their club funds.
Additional Courses were considered and discussed, with Huntly being mentioned. But as Bobby explained, the issue is not around adding a new course, but deciding on which course might be dropped. As all Members present were happy with all courses played in 2025, we might only be able to add a new course IF one of our existing venues is cancelled ie due to bad weather OR if we cannot obtain a mutually acceptable date & time or Green Fee for our event.
The second meeting of the season will be held at RAGC on Monday 13th April 2026 - 1st Tee Time will be 2pm on both courses.. Main course cost will be £70 with the Silverburn Course remaining at £20. As required by RAGC, any call off received within 7 days of the fixture, Members will still be required to pay the appropriate Green Fee.
The Kings Links will hopefully be the first meeting of the season. Annual subscriptions of £20 should also be paid then. Please note that Annual Subs are paid at the first event you attend.
The Murcar meeting had competitions on both the main Championship course and The Strathbathie course. In the 2025 season there was a very low number of players on the Strathbathie and the amount of prizes given out on the day were discussed. It was agreed that a minimum of 12 golfers have to play in any NESSGA competition for golf ball prizes or Order of Merit Points to be awarded.
The Turriff Texas Scramble had a healthy turnout of members (39) and it was decided that next year, Tea/coffee and bacon rolls will be made available before tee-off for all competitors. To help with the costs there will be at least a £5 donation from club funds per competitor.
Due to some clashes of various events and inter-club matches etc during the season, some Tuesdays may be required for 2026 fixtures. It was also suggested and agreed that Bobby could consider booking afternoon tee times if the most suitable date had something else booked that morning.
Bobby thanked committee members for their help during the past season.
It was decided that information regarding the trophies being played for during the season would be made available to members before the relevant events.
It was decided to stop having the NESSGA logo printed on the prize golf balls. This would be replaced by NESSGA letters only. Or possibly a suitable ball stamp procured for this purpose. And we will continue with Srixon Soft Feel balls as prizes.
It was agreed that Card payments will continue for all events
Very late call offs, no-shows etc might be asked to pay the green fee for that day, especially if no prior warning is given. The Committee will have discretion regarding this, depending upon the reason given. Members turning very late, who have not bothered to get in touch to advise of their delay, and/or who have clearly missed their allocated tee time, may even be turned away. Late shows are not only a problem for your Committee. This often disrupts one or more groups of your fellow Members waiting on the tee
Members were happy with the output and methods of general information from the Secretary.
It was agreed that after our successful trial at Turriff, Paid up Members will continue to be encouraged to invite one Guest per outing. They will only be required to pay the Green Fee on the day. However, please note that Guests will not be allowed to play at Royal Aberdeen, Deeside or Murcar.
Guests who attend, but decide not to join, cannot attend another NESSGA event without joining.
It was requested that the 2026 fixture list be posted on the seniors notice board at each club when it is finalised.
Bobby thanked Vice-Captain Gordon Patterson, a long standing NESSGA member, for his efforts over the years. Gordon had informed the committee that he would be standing down from his position.
Angus Davidson advised the Commitee that he was standing down as Treasurer.
Abbie Forbes will continue as Captain and take up the post of Treasurer.
Proposed by B Baxter Seconded by Brian Docherty
Bobby Baxter to continue as Club Secretary.
Albert Cowie will continue as Club President
Ordinary Committee Members
Alan Donald
Brian Docherty
Derek Ball (New committee member)
The Club Accounts were discussed and accepted by the membership.
The Committee had approached our long-standing member, David Dawson about being made an Honorary Member for his outstanding services to NESSGA. However David declined the offer of Honorary Membership, or a trophy in his name, but he received generous thanks and round of applause from the Committee and all attending members at the AGM.
AOCB
Bruce Mackie (Westhill) Suggested hiring a bus to a course out-with the area for an annual outing. The feasibility of this will be looked into. However, the obvious issue with this idea is where the bus would depart from and return, for this to be a fair and reasonable option for all our Members.
Bobby asked for some Members to become “Ambassadors” for NESSGA at their respective Clubs and to help spread the word and promote the benefits of NESSGA within their Seniors Section
Bobby then suggested that all club ambassadors should be recorded as their help may be required and certainly most welcome at all of our events.
NESSGA Ambassadors List
Turriff George Manson
Insch Alan Donald
Westhill Bruce Mackie
Hazlehead Mike Esson
Bon Accord Mike Rothnie
Nigg Bay Bill King
Newmachar George Wood
Stonehaven Ben Juffermans
Alford David Dawson t.b.c.
Balmoral John Carroll
Oldmeldrum Bob Cran
Deeside J McQueen t.b.c.
Royal Aberdeen Shaun George t.b.c.
Portlethen No one present but please contact Bobby using nessgasec@gmaikl.com if you are interested.

Alan Donald thanked Club Secretary - Bobby Baxter for all the work that he had carried out over the season to ensure the successful running of NESSGA.
The 2025 AGM was then brought to a Close.